We stayed at the Radisson and found the room to be very spacious! Pete' Diner across the street was very handy for breakfast, but only takes cash! It's in the Rittenhouse area and it was a great area to walk at night.

There are a lot more homeless and mentally disturbed people that hang out in Rittenhouse Square than in any comparable area in DC. Also, I took the kids to Franklin Inst and was out on that main street looking for a cab and a very aggressive homeless woman kept asking me for money. I never felt like I was in any danger, but it kinda scared the kids. Or at least gave them an eyeful of city life that they don't see in Arlington!

Anonymous wrote:I've stayed at the Hotel Palomar and it was really great (it's a Kimpton hotel). The surrounding area was very nice.

+1

Anonymous wrote:It should be fine, but use common sense as you would in any urban area. I've stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn near Chinatown/the Gallery... at night it was dead quiet on the streets nearby when we were walking back after dinner and Capogiro

That's not a very going area at night. I would stay on or near Broad Street. It's lively and will be an easy walk to most things. I would have no concerns walking around that area at night.

It should be fine, but use common sense as you would in any urban area. I've stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn near Chinatown/the Gallery... at night it was dead quiet on the streets nearby when we were walking back after dinner and Capogiro

Thanks, everyone! I was looking at one hotel that's about midway between Rittenhouse Square & Independence Hall/historic area. Sounds like that area should be fine.

You will be fine anywhere you want to go that has the tourist spots. The Franklin Institute is at the bottom of Franklin Park - people run here early in the morning before it's light, it's fine. The Barnes and Rodin Museum are there too. You are fine all the way to a few blocks South of South. I don't know why you would want to stay in Old City (maybe you love the sound of 95?) - it isn't central. Rittenhouse, Broad or by the Convention Center are where people usually stay.

I've stayed at the Hotel Palomar and it was really great (it's a Kimpton hotel). The surrounding area was very nice.

I'd suggest a bit closer to Center City than the Embassy Suites (or even the Four Seasons) that are in BF parkway proximity. Rittenhouse Square or down toward Broad St. We've always like the Radisson Warwick.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'll be fine anywhere in Center City. There are some sketchy areas in West and North Philly but anything near Old City or Rittenhouse is fine.

Thank you. How about near the Franklin Institute?

You'll be totally fine in the tourist areas, including near the Franklin Institute. There are a bunch of hotels along the Ben Franklin Parkway that would put you within walking distance of the Art Museum, Franklin Institute, and Acad of Natural Sciences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'll be fine anywhere in Center City. There are some sketchy areas in West and North Philly but anything near Old City or Rittenhouse is fine.

Thank you. How about near the Franklin Institute?

There's an Embassy Suites near there. You can walk down the parkway to the art museum, but it's not the most walkable area (there's also a lot of construction happening there right now). If it were me, I'd probably stay near Rittenhouse for the walkability and then take an uber to Old City and the Franklin (even if you're driving to Philly, an uber is probably cheaper than parking at the Franklin and in Old City). You could also just stay in Old City but there's probably less going on at night (just to walk and people watch) than Rittenhouse.

Any other suggestions/recommendations?

Anonymous wrote:You'll be fine anywhere in Center City. There are some sketchy areas in West and North Philly but anything near Old City or Rittenhouse is fine.

Thank you. How about near the Franklin Institute?

You'll be fine anywhere in Center City. There are some sketchy areas in West and North Philly but anything near Old City or Rittenhouse is fine.

It's Philly, so the question is, which areas are less sketchy.

We haven't been to Philly in years, and never for very long or with kids. We are planning a trip there soon and would appreciate recommendations on areas to stay. We'd like to see the historical stuff and also the Franklin Institute, art museum, etc. I can obviously look at a map, but I'd like to know which areas of town are safe vs sketchy etc. We will have 2 kids with us.
Thanks in advance.